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The Shangri-La Hotel is probably this year’s most anticipated British hotel opening (Picture: Belhaven/John Lawson)

There could be worse places to have insomnia, I reason with myself as I sit on a Japanese-style heated toilet 45 floors above London. It’s about 5am and the city is slowly coming to life.

The rain means I can barely make out east London, let alone France, but as a cloudy white light takes over the sky, I spot Bermondsey Street and London Bridge station, which soon fills up with commuters, pacing like busy little ants. It’s mesmerising.

The Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, which occupies floors 34 to 52 of Renzo Piano’s 1,016ft-tall glass spear building, is probably this year’s most anticipated British hotel opening. Complicated building setbacks meant the hotel opened a year later than planned, and now has 117 of its 202 guest rooms available.

One of the 117 guest bedrooms currently available at The Shangri-La

As one member of staff says: ‘Can you imagine getting this marble up here?’ Indeed. And there’s plenty of it. The Hong Kong-based luxury group is a fan of the swirly, veiny rock but I find it creates a dated look and my grey marble bathroom feels old-fashioned.

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In fact, if I had one complaint, it would be the decor. I’m in a small Iconic City View room – because of The Shard’s spiral shape, each room has its own unique layout – and the blue carpet and brown panels feel too businesslike.

The view over Canary Wharf from the Shangri-La reception (Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

But, I reason again, most people won’t be looking at the carpet, they’ll be standing at the floor-to-ceiling windows transfixed by the incredible view, thinking: ‘I can’t believe I’m sleeping in the Shard tonight!’

The Shangri-La knows how to do food and drink, and Gong, London’s highest bar, has a fun after-work buzz. I sip a Bermondsey Bubbles cocktail (£17) – a lethal gin and champagne concoction – while my companion goes for the Black & Blue Swizzle, Talisker whiskey, honey and – whoa – blue cheese.

(Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The 52nd floor’s pièce de résistance is the indoor infinity pool, which is being built as I write. It’s due to open in July, so guests can sip cocktails along the edge and imagine they are actually sitting on a rooftop.

Dinner at Ting is a delight. We scoff tender scallops with puréed carrot, Dorset crab with passionfruit, tuna with red radish, pork belly with apple and John Dory with sweet potato, washed down with large glasses of a tasty Château le Puy. Ting’s sommeliers know their stuff – in fact, every member of staff is a credit to the hotel.

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The Shard sits right next to London Bridge station so it’s perfectly placed for exploring the capital. But with rooms starting at £450 a night, I’d recommend staying in to soak up that view.